The 2021-22 Oklahoma group, gamers and also trains, will certainly look a great deal various than any type of Sooners group from current memory. After an offseason of adjustment, there will certainly be unknown faces throughout the area.
Despite the fact that brand-new head trainer Brent Venables invested 13 years with the Sooners, a great deal has actually transformed because he left. With all the strangeness bordering the program, it’s clear that the present personnel wishes to return to the program’s old methods. Beginning with the springtime video game, it looks like previous gamers investing off time in Norman will certainly be the brand-new standard.
Venables emphasized the relevance of having Sooner tales in the structure usually several times throughout his Tuesday interview.
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“I’m truly thrilled regarding seeing every one of the previous gamers,” Venables claimed. “There’s mosting likely to be a remarkable proving from them. That makes this area truly unique. There’s no place in university football that has the constant graduates existence of the College of Oklahoma.”
He kept in mind that by gaining from previous gamers, the advantage to dip into Oklahoma can be much better recognized.
On the other hand, previous gamers are delighted regarding the future of the program and also the possibility to be entailed once more. Numerous previous OU gamers had actually shed link with the program, consisting of WR Kenny Stills that articulated his issue on Twitter.
The present personnel is plainly attempting to revive all previous partnerships currently, as Stills later on tweeted he entered call with OU and also was also able to chat on the phone with Venables himself. That inviting setting is one that will certainly bring a great deal of gamers residence Saturday, consisting of Stills.
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“This is unusual, what we’re about to see right here this weekend break,” claimed Venables. “A couple of people remained in there today, Tom Wort and also Lane Johnson reached talk to the group, got up added very early and also obtained a possibility to wake the children up with some motivating words. That was truly amazing for me. And also this weekend break is mosting likely to be loaded with that.”
A substantial listing that’s still expanding, loaded with previous greats, is an inviting indication for a brand-new mentoring personnel attempting to recover practice. Plenty of Sooners from years past have actually tweeted that they’ll remain in participation at this Saturday’s springtime video game. The mentoring personnel has actually emphasized the relevance weekend break occasion in several methods, one being a method for present and also previous gamers to bond.
Leaders on the group like quarterback Dillon Gabriel resembled the mentoring personnel’s exhilaration to have previous gamers in the structure usually. The group overall aspires to communicate and also pick up from Sooners of the past.
“The largest point when they return is guy, it’s an advantage to play right here,” Gabriel claimed. “Simply having people return, those are people you view and also remain to respect. That’s why I’m extremely thrilled for the springtime video game and also having the ability to satisfy a lot of people that played right here that love this area a lot. I can simply see the interest they have for right here. And Also Sooner Country, just how much interest they have for this football group. It’s unique for certain.”
The present gamers aren’t the only recipients, however. The opportunity to go back to Norman has several previous gamers really feeling fired up also.
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An usual hashtag amongst these ex-Sooner messages is #SoonersForLife. That mirrors precisely what freshly included edge Kani Pedestrian claimed Tuesday on his thinking for selecting Oklahoma. The brand-new mentoring personnel wishes to develop an area where previous gamers have a residence permanently.
“However, a number of them can’t bet us,” Venables joked. “However it’ll be a terrific, excellent day for us.”
Central Arkansas Bears (3-8) at Oklahoma Sooners (11-0)
Norman, Oklahoma; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sooners -28.5; over/under is 145.5
BOTTOM LINE: No. 14 Oklahoma hosts Central Arkansas after Jeremiah Fears scored 30 points in Oklahoma’s 87-86 victory over the Michigan Wolverines.
The Sooners have gone 6-0 at home. Oklahoma has a 2-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Bears are 0-6 on the road. Central Arkansas ranks fourth in the ASUN with 23.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Brayden Fagbemi averaging 4.6.
Oklahoma averages 82.0 points, 5.2 more per game than the 76.8 Central Arkansas allows. Central Arkansas averages 9.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 more made shots on average than the 6.5 per game Oklahoma allows.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Fears is scoring 17.9 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Sooners.
Layne Taylor is scoring 17.0 points per game and averaging 4.4 rebounds for the Bears.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sooners: 10-0, averaging 80.9 points, 29.3 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 10.1 steals and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.5 points per game.
Bears: 3-7, averaging 73.0 points, 34.3 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 38.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.7 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to a commercial fire near the area of NW 10th and N Western Avenue.
OKCFD were at the scene of a commercial fire around 7 p.m. Saturday night, when they arrived there was heavy smoke visible from multiple floors of a boarded up building.
One adult female was found in the building and taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
At this time no cause has been reported.
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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
NORMAN — Bowl season is a bit unconventional for Navy.
The Midshipmen annually play against Army six days after the bowl schedule is released. That was the case this year, as Navy beat the Black Knights 31-13 on Dec. 14.
Beating Army is always a highlight for the Midshipmen. But the drawback for them is that they have less time than their bowl opponent to prepare for the game.
In this case, that’s Oklahoma. The Sooners will enter the game with more than two weeks of preparation for Navy’s triple-option offense.
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“It’s just a little different,” Navy coach Brian Newberry told reporters earlier this week. “They’ve known they’re going to play us for a little time now.”
Navy Coach, Oklahoma Native Brian Newberry Grew Up On OU Football
Navy does, however, enter the Armed Forces Bowl with momentum.
The Midshipmen (9-3) eased past Army last week in Landover, MD. They outgained the Black Knights 384-179 and forced Army quarterback Bryson Daily to throw three interceptions.
Navy’s rivalry win was its third in the last four games after the Midshipmen went on a two-game skid in the middle of the season. Newberry cited his team’s physicality in recent games, particularly in the Midshipmen’s drubbing of Army.
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“I was so impressed with how our kids handled the moment,” Newberry said. “Army’s a really, really good football team. I thought we physically dominated the game in the way that we blocked, beat blocks, the way we tackled. I thought we outplayed them in all three phases, so I’m really, really proud of that.”
A stark difference between the teams is the number of players that have entered the transfer portal.
The Sooners have seen 25 players from their 2024 team enter the portal. The Midshipmen have suffered only one departure in the winter portal window with defensive back Lorenzo Vitti.
On one hand, that makes Oklahoma preparation tough for Navy.
“It’s interesting,” Newberry said. “We’re going through their two-deep and trying to figure out who’s going to play and who isn’t. It’s a little bit of a challenge in that regard. And it could certainly change with a different quarterback.”
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But largely, the Midshipmen’s lack of transfers gives Newberry confidence that his team will be bought in for one more game in 2024.
“The portal can affect us, players can jump in the portal — we’re not getting that,” Newberry said. “It’s challenging to build a culture anywhere in college football right now, one that’s built on a certain level of trust. They know each other really, really well. They’ve fought through adversity. They stay the course, they pay the price and they have an opportunity.”
Navy will also play for more than just another win; the Midshipmen are looking to make history.
Navy has reached the 10-win mark just four times in program history. The Midshipmen did so three times under former coach Ken Niumatalolo from 2009-2019.
Having a shot at history while playing Oklahoma — the state that Newberry hails from — excites the coach.
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“It’s the last time that this team gets to play together,” Newberry said. “They want to go out the right way against a storied program like Oklahoma. It’s a great reward to play in a bowl game, but it’s a game we want to win.”
The Midshipmen and Sooners will play in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth at 11 a.m. on Dec. 27.
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